We’ve covered Fukuoka in 2017 and 2022, both times in autumn. This spring, we enjoyed the Sakura season from Hiroshima, Miyajima (part of Hiroshima)and Fukuoka. Only 3 items in our agenda — cherry blossoms, food trip and shopping (for most). Our hotel in Fukuoka is right next to the Hakata Station where many shops and restos are, so that’s very convenient. I am not that keen on checking out more spots as I’m booked to be back later (and warmer) this year for some event. For now, let it be truly relaxing . And for more Sakura blooms, we trooped to Maizuru Park. We found many locals enjoying a picnic or just lazing around under the cherry blossoms. Hanami is taken quite seriously here and we’re glad to enjoy that with the locals here.
Maizuru Park
The park is built adjoining Ohori Park around the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. The castle used to be the largest castle in the Kyushu area (Edo Period 1603-1868) but only the walls and a few turrets remain. The story goes that the castle was best forgotten as a symbol of Japan’s feudal past. Just like Shukkeien Park in Hiroshima, Maizuru also has an art museum beside it.
Maizuru Park
After viewing all these hanami spots, we were only too glad we are experiencing the last few days of Sakura here. The crowds are mostly locals, much unlike the thick crowds to be found in the bigger cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The weather cooperated — mostly sunny days in Hiroshima and Fukuoka with temps tempered by our thick and warm clothes. As a big group DIY-ing it, we were surprised we never disbanded nor got separated riding buses, ferries and trams. Dining and shopping was never a problem as our hotels enjoyed a good location. After many trips to Japan, this is only my 2nd time to witness Cherry blossoms in full bloom. First time with the tourist crowds, this 2nd time with the locals. Certainly worth the trip!
Third time is a charm. So they say. The first was in autumn, the next one in winter. This time in spring, in time for Sakura or hanami — a Japanese term meaning cherry blossoms viewing. At the time we planned this trip, we hardly planned around the Sakura season. But the timing’s perfect. And we made good on visiting 4 famous cherry blossoms viewing spots here in Hiroshima.
Hiroshima A Bomb Dome in Peace Memorial Park
Amidst the grim reminders of the horrors of war, the white sakura blooms lining the river are truly beautiful. Motorboats plying the river, passing the Atomic Bomb Dome, give tourists a respite just viewing the cherry blossoms following a heart rending episode in the nearby war museum. A good walk from here, a wharf serves ferries taking in passengers from the Peace Park to Miyajima Island. Still part of Hiroshima, but the 40-minute ferry ride to the island offers more hanami with over a thousand cherry trees along the island’s walking paths towards the iconic floating Torii gate . Another option (which I took on earlier visits) is to take the 30 minute train to Miyajima-guchi and then hitch on the 10-minute ferry to the island. Yet another option is to ride the streetcar (in lieu of the train) all the way to Miyajima-guchi and take the 10-minute ferry. Cheaper, but a few minutes longer.
We took this streetcar after the ferry ride from Miyajima island to Miyajima- guchi Port. Either take this or the train back to Hiroshima.
Oh, let me just say that visiting Miyajima is always a good option sakura time or not. More so if you’re a big fan of oysters and eels. In this tiny island, you’d also be surprised to know that they have their own brewery. What to pair with your oysters and congee eels? There’s a choice of sake or beer. Good combo if you ask me. And then there are those maple-leaf shaped cakes with varied fillings — tried the red bean, matcha and chocolate. Good with Miyajima Coffee , or if you care for more sweets, an affogato from the same Miyajima Coffee Shop.
Hiroshima Castle
Back in Hiroshima city proper, one can visit Hiroshima Castle. You’d find less cherry trees here but if you’re visiting this reconstructed castle, those sakura blooms are a bonus during this time. And a short walk from here is the Shukkeien Park. There may be even less cherry blossom trees planted here but the entire landscape is sooo soothing to the eyes and calming to frayed nerves. The ponds, the bamboo trees, the tea garden, rock gardens, all add to the charm. Pink and white blossoms welcome visitors right by the entrance to the Park. I highly recommend this garden park especially if one has the luxury of spending 1-2 hours here. I notice there is an adjoining Museum and a lovely garden cafe too. It’s not a bad idea to spend an entire afternoon in this spot.
Shukkeien ParkShukkeien Park
So there. Four spots for your next hanami. Sayonara!
The last so many years, I’ve been writing my travel journals on a regular basis. Traveling every so often, hardly staying put. The last 2 years were even busier as I had to keep up with the energy levels of my grandchildren on trips they’re visiting for the first time. Well, as I’ve always said — there is no time to waste, especially when one rolls into their seventies. The first 6 weeks of the year were quite eventful and we struggled to hurdle some setbacks. Only got to work out and prep for forthcoming travels lately and those visa applications remain pending as I write this. No firm travel plans yet except one end of this month while pondering where in Europe to go come mid May. Initially thought of Italy being the Jubilee Year. But the “Jubilee crowd” makes me anxious over tourist and pilgrimage crowds as I’ve heard of long queues just to visit a single spot. Not my cup of tea.
Praying for Pope Francis
Italy has always been my favorite and praying for Pope Francis’ recovery is foremost in my mind. I also want to do another pilgrimage walk in Spain since my last time was even before the pandemic. And of course, there is always the lure of visiting Paris for the nth time. Who grows tired of Paris, anyway?
I try not to overthink (but I do!) at least until my Schengen visa is issued and released. My traveling companion (another “Nieto”) is visiting Europe for the first time so I’m sure he’d be interested in whatever spots or countries I choose for us to visit. With only 2 weeks to spare — corresponding to his school break — we can only cover 2-3 adjoining European countries at best. I know, we can do more but that’s not my idea of traveling. At least 3-4 nights in each spot is my ideal. Wish us luck!
Same time last year, I was only too happy to welcome the new year. It was a very challenging 2023 then and by God’s grace, we breezed through 2024 with many pleasant surprises and happy developments. And just like that, here we are on the last few weeks of 2024, looking forward to a very Merry Christmasand an even happier 2024.
Nightcap at Fairmont Hotel
The first quarter of 2024 was nearly uneventful until my visit to our OZ branch in Sydney. The visit was actually a prelude to an even longer trip crossing 3 time zones. Sydney was our takeoff point for our South American adventure. I waited to join my travel buddies on a flight to Santiago, Chile on April 2. The “barkada trip” covering Chile and Peru spanned over 2 weeks but I left earlier than the rest to join my 2 “apos” in the beautiful city of Venezia for the biennale exhibition. But that’s getting ahead of my story. Patagonia on Chile’s side is magnificent — the kind of adventure you should have planned for when you were younger. Seriously. But visiting it now still stirs that adventurous juice within you. The vista was so dreamy it casts a magical spell. We’ve had some mishaps and coming into Peru, experienced altitude sickness of sorts. Yet, we all cherish the memories and weeks after the trip, found it a chore to move on. We’ve traveled to many beautiful spots together but this South American journey is one for the books. Santiago, Patagonia, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Lake Titicaca and all the places in between comprise one magical holiday, compelling us to rethink our future travel plans.
Torres Del Paine. Patagonia. Chile. Cusco. Peru
It was agonizing to leave this happy group to take that last seat on a flight from Lima, Peru to Madrid, Spain for a connecting flight to Venice, Italy. By the time I landed in Venice, I felt brain-fogged and nearly deaf after all those flight hours and anxieties over missing my connecting flight. My 2 elves were waiting for me by then as I managed to join them on the exhibit opening day. Without change of clothes, we didn’t miss a beat and went straight to the gallery where my grandma pride took overas I stared at apo’s lone entry hanging on a wall at Palazzo Mora. Grateful. Proud. Beyond Happy. We celebrated the day I arrived with a sumptuous Italian dinner before I hit the sack and snored the night away. Just one night. The following morning, we took the train for Florence where we spent 6 nights and then to Rome for 3 more nights before flying home. It was an Italian holiday that went better than planned.
Venezia
London
Some friends ask me where I get the energy. By September, we got ready for yet another art exhibition in London. Before the London exhibit, we took side trips to Liverpool and Edinburghin Scotland. A most rewarding trip in 3 cities in the United Kingdom. Apo and her mom enjoyed these detours and prepped us good for the exhibit of Filipino artists in D Contemporary in the Mayfairarea of London. Took all of nearly 3 weeks for this UK journey. Stayed home less than 2 weeks before flying back to Sydney — a second visit this year, and this time as a prelude to a New Zealand cruise aboard the Celebrity Edge. Not my first cruise but my first trip to further Down Under! Twelve nights on this big boat, half of which spent at sea. Our big group of 29 made it across those unpredictable waters and found the NZ spots under the tourist radar quite interesting, if not charming.
Celebrity Edge Cruiseship Behind me.
Marina in Auckland, New Zealand
I am home now. Happy to have bonded with my OZ family before and after my NZ cruise. Happy to be back to attend a reunion with college friends and of course, to spend Christmas and New Year with my family. No trips outside the country nor out-of-town. We are staying home to spend time with balikbayan kin and friends. The Yuletide calendar is full, marking a couple of birthdays and a wedding anniversary as well. We have made some Yuletide traditions simpler over the years. Simpler, but more “present”. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. May 2025 bring us peace, prosperity, harmony and many treasured momentswith our loved ones ❤️
This wraps up my pre-sailing jitters and excitement and the 12 nights enjoyed cruising on Celebrity Edge. Not my first cruise but my first on Celebrity Cruises. Just learned it’s been acquired by Royal Caribbean and that’s good. I’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean before with my family and that’s one of my memorable trips to this day. I must say they sure know their business and I couldn’t complain, really.
With so many sea days aboard Celebrity Edge, we needed to line up activities to keep us off the buffet counters and fancy restaurants. Not so easy. The food beckons and we’re not exactly keen on pool activities with the wind blowing out at sea. The theatre offerings provided entertainment and there’s the games and shopping to distract us. The cabin’s verandah provided scenic distractions too but again, the wind and chill factors often kept us off it.
A Shrimp Tower
Panoramic Views off the verandah
What to do? The dining scene is overwhelming. There were 4 complimentary fancy restos — the Normandie, Cyprus, Tuscan and Cosmopolitan and the more casual Eden, Mast Grill, Spa Cafe and Oceanview Buffet Resto. We likewise tried the Le Grand Bistro for the special Le Petit Chef dinner but I skipped the Raw on 5 sushi place. There were more, but I was quite happy with the ones I’ve tried. As for entertainment, there were concerts every night and some educational /informative talks but I like best the talks by Captain Matt and that of the Cruise Director especially that part where they talked about their lockdown experience for 8 months! Oh yes, the pandemic truly wreaked havoc to the cruise industry. Imagine these good men and women as “prisoners”in their own boat. They used the Celebrity app to communicatewith each other, locked in their cabins and seeing each other only on screens. Awful. But they endured, through games and costume/themed “parties” just to amuse each other. There were more talks — ranging from trivia on jellyfish or “jellies”, to global finance, artificial intelligence and destination experiences. It is easy to fill up one’s personal calendar by signing up for all these events. And if one is coming aboard alone, there are solo travellers meet-ups!
Early this year, the Celebrity was made a subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Group. I’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean before and find the same brand of service in my first experience with the Celebrity Cruises. So if you’re curious if I’m cruising with this group again, the answer is yes. Perhaps with my family next time. Cruising is a fine bonding adventure for families and good friends. An opportunity to spend 24/7 for at least a week, without mundane duties like fixing meals and housekeeping. Not unlike doing staycations with your loved ones and attending concerts every night. Not unlikely to find it a chore to be “on dates” at short intervals and dining fancy every single night, so it’s best to craft a plan. There is variety in the entertainment department and if one needs solitude, you can always stay in your room or stay in one of the deck chairs reading a book. So there. ⛴️
On a single sea day, our cruise ship passed the Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. The first was allegedly teeming with wildlife and I had my fingers and toes crossed we’d have the luck to spot an albatross or a pod of dolphins. Or even fur seals. Not so lucky in that department but the 3 fiords are all so beautiful especially the last. We cruised passing snow-capped and rocky mountains and verdant rainforests alongside smaller boats out with tourists waving from their decks. The whole “sound visits” started at 8am till 4pm but we were slightly delayed leaving Milford Sound as one of the passengers on our ship had a medical emergency. I appreciate that the Celebrity crew was most efficient in handling the emergency and that Captain Matt Karandreas even went on the P. A. system to update us that all’s well.
Milford Sound
Of the 3, Milford Sound is the crown jewel. We felt welcomed by a panoramic view of majestic waterfalls and rocky peaks. Because the ship actually cruised in and turned around to exit out, we saw both sides of the sound from our cabin’s verandah. We decided against going up the viewing points from the poolside deck or the solarium to avoid the cold breeze and splashes from the sea waves and even from the swimming pools! Crossing the Tasman Sea into and out of New Zealand can be an ordeal but we were in luck cruising from Sydney towards New Zealand. This time around, the return trip met higher, wilder swells and fiercer winds. Our Captain Matt Karandreas (from the beautiful country of Greece) gave a talk on how the ship navigates the waters and more interestingly, about himself. What a charming man especially as he articulated what really happens while cruising and the decisions only the Captain can make. His self-confidence, competence and seeming decisiveness reassured us that The Edge has “the edge” in this maritime industry. It is my first cruise with Celebrity Cruises so that is comforting.
Our boat docked early morning in Port Chalmers, less than a half hour drive from Dunedin in New Zealand’s South Island. Just like Lyttelton (near Christchurch), a log yard welcomed us. If you like the smell of wood, you’d find aplenty here. Dunedin near the Otago Peninsula is not only the second largest city in the South Island but also one of the oldest in the entire New Zealand. It also is home to the country’s only castle ( Larnach Castle ) and a haven for wildlife like penguins, albatross, sea lions and seals. You will also find Royal Albatross Center here – the only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross in the world. The albatross is the world’s largest sea bird, able to fly from Otago Peninsula to Chile. Around this time in November is their breeding season. These sea birds only visit land to breed and care for their chicks but otherwise, they live in remote islands spending 80% of their lives at sea. And hear this, albatross mate for life. Some men can learn loyalty lessons from these great birds. 🙄
We struck good luck with our driver Gerald Brook who regaled us with Dunedin’s and Otago’s Scottish history and heritage. The Scots settled in this eastern corner of the South Island and founded Dunedin, then known as the “Edinburgh of the South” and the settlers came to be known as the Otago Highlanders. The train station building is an elegant structure in this hilly landscape which has developed also as a university city. Thus, student accommodations and dormitories have become big business here along with timber and marine life.
World’s Steepest Road
Gerald drove us around the university campus, stopped by the world’s steepest road, the railway station, Signal Hill, St. Paul’s Church, the CBD. It was enough time however brief it was to spend here and appreciate this remote but interesting part of the country. Time was managed very well as we found enough time to do the few spots in the city. Gerald’s commentary gave context to what we visited and his kind demeanour was truly appreciated.
Railway Station
Dunedin does not exactly draw in the tourists but as cruise ships dock here in Port Chalmers, that may soon change. The offshore excursions offer enough to know more about wildlife and the timber industry. The landscape and scenic lookouts are not too distant from each other to make day tours very manageable such that we weren’t stressed out to rush back to our cruise ship. We even found time to shop and look for a cafe to people-watch . We were amused to see school children with their teachers crossing the street in a line, and not so young men and women sitting outdoors with their beers. Our conjecture is that these people have early, very early happy hours since it was only after lunch. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised with Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula and more so when some cruisers spotted dolphins in the deep waters as our cruise ship sailed out. Let’s hope more dolphins show up as our boat cruises the Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and the more popular Milford Sound. A Sound Day tomorrow!
This is just a brief visit to this city in the South Island of Kiwiland. Could have been perfect if we had the chance to go punting but not this time. Our boat sails out before sunset so we only had time to check out the botanical gardens, the art gallery area, the under-renovation Christchurch Cathedral, the Cardboard Cathedral, the Avon River and Riverside Market. To round it off, we also took the tram to go around the city before joining our cruise ship again.
We could have spent more time in the botanical gardens. An hour there is simply not enough. One of the toddlers wanted to stay longer, understandably so since all that space meant running around, picking flowers and just watching those flat-bottomed boats glide by the river. Wish we could name the centuries-old trees, but we can only admire how lush and beautiful they are.
The Cardboard Cathedral a.k.a. the Transitional Cathedral, is the transitional place of worship of the Anglican Diocese of the city, replacing the now under-restoration Christchurch Cathedral, which was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Lunch was in the Riverside Market which was teeming with cruisers like us, out to check local delicacies. Seafood was better. Oysters ever delightful, hitting that spot with every slurp off the shell.
No punting meant taking the tram around the city where we passed major attractions including the art murals on the sides of the buildings and art installations in public parks and gardens. Wish there was more time, and a steadily stable internet connection. That’s to say I’d edit this as we go along . Ciao!
We anchored at one of the largest and island-dotted natural harbours in New Zealand. Tauranga welcomed us with cloudy skies and what looked like a truly busy port. After all, it is close to the world’s Kiwi fruit capital, Te Puke. Am not a big fan of kiwi, but the ones I tried on the boat are very sweet and tasty such that it adorned my plate every single day. We are visiting Tauranga just a day before the Remembrance and Veterans Day and our boat will honor it with a moment of silence. Reminds me of those earlier visits to Gallipoli in Turkey and Omaha Bay in Normandy. Lest we forget! I have only deep respect for these men and women and likewise to those, who to this day, compel us to remember. We should remember.
We did the hiking trail and enjoyed sweating out all those accumulated calories we consumed by non-stop eating on the boat. I stayed away from meat as much as I could but the desserts are another story. Like ordering 2 starters, skipping the main entrees but failing to resist the ice cream or sorbet, eclairs, or panna cottas. Frankly, the hike hardly dented nor offset all that food intake but we certainly enjoyed the scenery and the workout. And then we got bolder with a trike ride around town, breezing through the coastal roads with our “daredevil pilot” Michael who called us ladies Dorothy 1,2 and 3. Now, there’s a private joke behind that and we’d rather keep it private. 🤫 For a 30 minute trike run, we paid NZ$195 including tax and boy, did we ladies have fun! Wanted to do this as early as our first offshore excursion to Pahia in the Bay of Islands but I guess, the adventure had to happen here in Tauranga instead.
“Daredevil Michael” took us to the oldest tree in all of New Zealand, the kiwi factory offices, the campus, the posh waterfront houses (selling for NZ$13.5 Million!) and the streets lined with interesting cafes and restaurants. He also pointed out the many trees abundantly grown there which they they simply call Kiwi Christmas trees but he’s not sure why. His guess is that it’s called that because they grow bright red flowers around the end of the year, adding to the festive season. From time to time, he’d rev up the engine and let us girls feel the breeze like we’re racing, much to our screaming delight. At our age, it’s something we ticked off our list to do. Well, don’t judge us. We simply wanted to feel somehow reckless while having fun. All around town, we waved to people who looked like they came off the same cruise ship. Many waved back. The cruisers are in town but will soon sail out!
Hey, I’m writing this in a rush just to chronicle our doings here. Forgive the typo and other errors. Will edit, polish when wifi connection is more stable. Likely after the cruise. See ya!
lifeisacelebration 